Olympic Games—Helsinki 1952

Selection

Selection of the eight was undertaken 12 months in advance of the Olympic
Games which meant that the crew raced the 1952 King's Cup for NSW during
its preparation. The crew was comprehensively beaten by Victoria by four
lengths with the media claiming it should be nominated in place of the
NSW crew. The NSW were far from their best having suffered severely from
adverse reactions from the vaccinations for overseas travel. The stroke
Phil Cayzer lost 20 lb in three days and he was only one of five affected.
It was also mentioned that their fundraising responsibilities, some 7,000
pounds, impacted their preparation.

Selector Gould had faith in the crew and stood by his decision. To the
credit of the crew and Gould, the eight won a bronze medal. The selection
of an eight oared crew was significant in such a small sized Australian
Olympic team of 96 people. The AOF later advised that if it had not been
for their defeat of the highly acclaimed American crew at the Christchurch
Games in New Zealand in 1951, an eight would not have been sent. The AOF
still could only fund four seats for the eight.

The selection of Merv Wood in the single was automatic following his
gold medal in London in 1948 and his wins in the President's Cups in 1949,
1950, 1951 and 1952. Selections for the other crews depended both on standard
and finances.

Test races in Ballarat were conducted for the remaining crews. The double
scull won their right to compete at these test races. The coxless pair
were the emergencies for the eight and raced. A coxed pair of N S Wills
(Vic), Murray A Christie (Vic) and cox J Bailey (Vic) was also nominated
but not approved due to lack of finances.

It is interesting to note that no coaches were selected. Reports from
those involved noted that the crews suffered from this lack of coaching
support and a good training program. Phil Cayzer, stroke of the eight,
received an Order of Australia Medal in 1992 for his lifetime service
to rowing.

Sculler Mervyn Wood carries the flag for Australia
in the Opening Ceremony

Australian Team

Men's Single Scull – Silver

Mervyn T Wood (NSW)

Men's Double Scull – Eliminated in repechage

Bow: A John Rodgers (NSW)

Str: Murray S Riley (NSW)

Men's Pair – Eliminated in repechage

Bow: Don R Palmer (NSW)

Str: Victor R Middleton (NSW)

Men's Eight – Bronze

Bow: Robert N Tinning (NSW)

2: Ernest W Chapman (NSW)

3: Nimrod Greenwood (NSW)

4: David R Anderson (NSW)

5: Geoff Williamson (NSW)

6: Mervyn D Finlay (NSW)

7: Edward O G Pain (NSW)

Str: Phillip A Cayzer (NSW)

Cox: Thomas E M Chessel (NSW)

Manager: Jack R Berkery (TAS)Selector: A B (Joe) Gould was the sole selector for the
eight.

Mervyn Wood had the honour of being Australia's flag bearer at the Opening
Ceremony.

Racing

The first two of the qualifying heats progressed to the semi finals.
Then the winners of the first repechages raced the losers of the semi-finals
with the others eliminated. The winners of the semi-finals progressed
to the final. The winners of the second repechages progressed to the final.

Bill Thomas coached the eight whilst in Australia.Ted Bromley and a committee
raised the funds for Bill to travel with the team but this was not sanctioned
by the AOF. Selector Gould accompanied the crew to Helsinki and is credited
with some most beneficial coaching. Despite the efforts of the crew on
their return, the AOF would not officially recognize Gould as a team member.

The eight had a serious setback during the final preparation when Mervyn
Finlay suffered torn rib muscles. In the heat he rowed in considerable
pain and the crew raced stroke for stroke with the Yugoslav crew but was
beaten narrowly. The crew faced the eventual gold and silver medallists
in the semi final forcing them through the second repechage against Yugoslavia
again. This time the result was reversed with Australia making the final
in the place of Yugoslavia. The eight raced magnificently in the final
to get the bronze medal. The winning American crew maintained a tradition
established over the previous eight Olympic Games of an American victory
in the eights event.

Wood suffered a severe injury to his elbow as a child. At various times
during his rowing career, the injury caused his much distress. Unfortunately
the 1948 Games was one of these times and it is suspected that he was
unable to race at his best. He raced a good heat but had to qualify through
the second repechage to the final. In the final, he finished an excellent
second to the 22 year old Russian Yuri Tukalov. Wood was lauded by all
being now a 35 year old. Little did they know there was another Olympic
Games and Olympic medal still to be won by Wood.

The Australians also suffered injuries with the double. Riley had an
infected fingernail which was removed just prior to racing. Their heat
included the gold medallist and another finalist. The first repechage
was a good race but the second repechage against the bronze medallists
Uruguayans proved too tough for them.

The pair had a good heat but met the bronze medallists in the semi final
and the gold medallists in the second repechage. Their path to the final
was blocked by the eventual medallists, a fault of this system of racing.

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The ideas and format for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship
histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks.
Andrew Guerin has developed and extended the histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004
and 2005 and acknowledges the ongoing assistance of Margot Foster.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian
names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information
supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained
in this work.